USES OF PEAT 



Still higher in the peat comes the Bog Oak. With it 

 are in Denmark remains of the Bronze, Iron, and Roman 

 times. 



In Denmark the uppermost layers of the peat contain 

 remains of Beech trees. As this last tree only entered the 

 country in the historic period, it is not found except in the 

 highest layers of all. 



Unfortunately we have not yet obtained in our own 

 country the same evidence from the peat-bogs as to the 

 history of the flora of Britain. It is at least probable that 

 it was on very much the same lines. 



Would it be possible to again cover our peat-mosses and 

 moorlands with forests of Conifers, Pines, Larches, and 

 Spruces ? There can scarcely be any doubt about it : it 

 would be possible, and according to the best authorities it 

 would even pay to change all land which is not yielding 

 more than 7s. 6d. an acre into forests of Pines. 



One of the curious facts about peat is that though a 

 peat-moss is one of the worst natural soils, yet broken-up 

 and dried peat is excellent for Rhododendrons, for Orchids 

 in stoves and greenhouses, and a great many other plants. 



Peat consists of very much the same substances as those 

 that go to form leaf-mould. But the presence of humic 

 and other acids, and the saturation with water and con- 

 sequently the absence of worms, bacteria, and also of air, 

 make it impossible for plants to grow in a peat-moss. 



Peat-moss due specially to the Cotton-grass rather than 

 the Sphagnum moss is imported in great quantity from 

 Holland, for use as litter for horses. We have in this 

 country plenty of peat quite good for this purpose, but 

 labour is too expensive for our home-grown peat to compete 

 with the produce of Dutch moors. 



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